HEADACHE – MIGRAINE

Description:

Headaches are very common – most people have a headache at some time in their life. Most headaches disappear on their own or with the help of mild pain relievers. Although most headaches are mild and temporary annoyances, some people have headaches that are so severe they need to consult a doctor for pain relief.

Headaches come in various forms: tension, migraine, sinus, and cluster headaches. In a small number of cases, headaches may signal a more serious condition that requires immediate medical attention.

Causes:

Migraines are generally more severe than tension headache and can be debilitating. The cause of migraine is not known but many trigger factors are recognized. These include hormonal changes, certain foods (chocolate, aged cheeses), beverages (red wine), strong odours, lack of sleep, and even stress. It is not uncommon to experience mixed tension-migraine headaches.

Migraine headaches are chronic headaches that can cause significant pain for hours or even days. Some headaches begin with sensory warning signals such as auras, flashes of light, blind spots, and or tingling in the arm or leg. Nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light or sound often accompany migraine headaches.